Morang District lies in the Outer Terai, or plains, of eastern Nepal. Most of the land is taken up by rice and jute cultivation, though areas of sal forest remain along the northern part of the district where the plains meet the hills.
Demographics
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
1981
534,692
—
1991
674,823
+2.35%
2001
843,220
+2.25%
2011
965,370
+1.36%
2021
1,147,186
+1.74%
Sources:
At the time of the 2021 Nepal census, Morang District had a population of 1,147,186. 7.63% of the population is under 5 years of age. It has a literacy rate of 78.61% and a sex ratio of 1059 females per 1000 males. 802,089 (69.92%) lived in municipalities.
Morang is the most ethnically diverse district in Nepal, with 119 castes and ethnicities represented. Khas people make up the largest group, mainly Chhetri and Bahun who together make up over 25% of the population. Khas Dalits are around 4% of the population. Madheshi communities made up nearly 24% of the population, with 17% being non-Dalits and 7% Dalits. Terai Janjati communities make up nearly 19% of the population, mainly Tharu, Rajbanshi, Gangai and Dhimal. Hill Janajati communities make up 17% of the population, mainly Kiranti peoples like Rais and Limbus as well as Tamang and Magar. Muslims are nearly 5% of the population, divided into a number of castes.
Most of the district is rural, though it is also home to Biratnagar, the sixth largest city of Nepal. It is the industrial capital of Nepal. Morang has the highest numbers of industries and factories, multinational brands. Other emerging towns include Sundarharaicha, Urlabari, Belbari, Pathari and Rangeli. It has the largest industrial area in the whole country, expanding from Rani Mills Area to Duhabi River. Biratnagar Jute Mills, Arihant and Dhanawat Matches are among the nation's oldest industries.
Education
Morang district is home to the historic Morang Campus (Mahendra Morang Adarsh Multiple Campus, Biratnagar), Sukuna Multiple Campus (Sundar Haraicha Municipality), Urlabari Multiple Campus, Pathari Multiple Campus, and several other institutions of higher learning. Sukuna Multiple Campus has around 5000 students situated at Sunderharaincha of Morang district. Purbanchal University in Biratnagar offers graduate level courses in many disciplines of Science, Arts and Liberal Sciences. At present, the university has broadly identified Industry-Technology, Agriculture-Forestry, Environment- Rural-Cultural Subsistence and Sustainable Development as specific areas of “Academic Excellence”. It has affiliated private in all the parts of Nepal.
Nepal
